Good samaritans scammed online

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Good samaritans in Australia were being duped in an internet
property laundering scam, Queensland police say.

Brisbane police said today they had received several complaints
from people who had been taken in by the Nigerian Mule Scam.

A number of complaints had also been recorded in other states,
including South Australia, they said.

Acting Detective Superintendent Brian Hay said the scam operated
in the same way as a money laundering scheme.

An unsuspecting "mule" was recruited through a chatroom or
online forum by browsers posing as Australian citizens.

The mules were then asked to take delivery of property, usually
computer equipment, which the scammer bought online with stolen
cards.

The unsuspecting Australians were then asked to forward the
equipment to an overseas address, believing they were helping a
struggling businessperson in another country.

Hay said people who unknowingly became involved in the scam
could face prosecution as the goods and stolen credit cars could be
traced to them.

"Members of the public should treat any request to disclose
personal information or accept goods for another person with the
utmost caution," Hay said.

"Anyone who has accepted any such goods should contact the
company who have sent the goods."

Businesses taking orders for computers, laptops, DVDs and other
equipment should check the requests with an actual person or
organisation and watch out for incorrectly spelled email requests,
especially from senders who refused to supply a contact phone
number.